Alec Segaert had won silver in the time trial at the World Cup in Australia, but in the road race he had to let the Kazak Yevgeni Fedorov and the Czech Mathias Vacek drive in the final round. Federov captured the rainbow jersey.
And also in Lombardy Segaert and Federov – actually a pro at Astana, but to show his rainbow jersey he started for the Astana promises – against each other.
They were part of the decisive breakaway that drove away on the Madonna del Ghisallo. A joust also ensued with the Frenchman Jordan Labrosse, but everything was decided in a pressing sprint in Oggiono. In this, Segaert showed himself just faster than the rainbow jersey.
Segaert thus follows in the footsteps of Harm Vanhoucke. In 2016, he was the last Belgian to win the Tour of Lombardy for promises.
“I had a great feeling,” Segaert said. “After the Ghisallo, the five of us were gone.”
“The leading group was reduced to 3 men on the sloping local circuit, but just before the last corner someone came back.”
“We had gambled a bit, but I made it a long sprint and was able to keep it up to the finish.”
